Scarborough residents uneasy about height of Cape Bouvard apartments development

Freda Krupenia and other Scarborough residents are opposing an application for Cape a Bouvard apartment development. Picture: Andrew Ritchie d473360

A GROUP of Scarborough residents say a proposed 12-storey development will impact on their lifestyle and increase Brighton Road traffic congestion.

Residents from CeVue apartments, across the road from the proposed 12-storey Cape Bouvard development, said they were told the maximum number of levels was eight floors when they bought their properties off the plan seven years ago.

However, recent changes to planning frameworks could allow for up to 12 storeys in the area.

The group has collected almost 300 signatures for a petition which has been received by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) about the development on the corner of Brighton Road and The Esplanade.

Resident Freda Krupenia said the group was concerned the development would impact the lifestyle they had invested in.

“The carpark entry proposed from Brighton Road will have a significant impact to the already heavy traffic flow; currently there are eight entry and exits on the 300m road length, which is tight,” she said.

“When combined with the external traffic, especially in peak times, this will increase congestion.

“The residential carpark entry should be from the Esplanade to minimise congestion.”

MRA chief executive Kieran Kinsella said a new “flexible planning framework” had been introduced in late 2016 which allowed for increases in height limit for mixed use developments which provided benefits to the community such as public parking and sustainable design.

He said the Cape Bouvard proposal featured 37 residential apartments and two ground floor commercial tenancies for hospitality use.

Cape Bouvard development manager Tristan Cribb said the company was aware of the petition and had a long history of positive community engagement in the Scarborough beachfront area, including developing the CeVue and Quest apartments built over 10-levels on the corner of Brighton Road and The Esplanade.

“Our architects have already implemented a number of design changes in consultation with the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority,” Mr Cribb said.

“We look forward to getting further feedback from the MRA now that the public comment phase of the approval process is over.”

Mr Cribb said the privacy of north-facing apartments and driveway access to the proposed development were important planning considerations.

“The site location is conveniently off-set from the south-facing CeVue apartments and the deep balconies and extensive screening maximises privacy for adjoining property owners,” he said.

“The building’s designers also applied the MRA’s policy for living areas and balconies to be facing on to the street to activate Brighton Road and The Esplanade.”

Mr Kinsella said a decision was expected later this year and would take the petition and community and stakeholder comments into consideration.